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Hello,

Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
my room gets too warm easily.

Is there anything else to cool down? Should I really spin my HDDs down (is that a good idea and is it slow to
spin up if I need it?). I heard about athcool utility, but it sounds scary since it can cause problems, data
losses, etc. I really don't have the time to mess with it and deal with any problems that it might cause.

I think in my BIOS, I turned off ACPI(?) and APM. Do I need these enabled? How can I check if I have the required
components installed in my Debian and what do I need (apt-get install). FYI, here is my sensors -f during mostly
idled and using the box via SSH:

$ sensors -f
w83697hf-isa-0290
Adapter: ISA adapter
VCore: +1.63 V (min = +1.71 V, max = +1.89 V) ALARM
+3.3V: +3.25 V (min = +3.14 V, max = +3.47 V)
+5V: +4.97 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V)
+12V: +12.04 V (min = +10.82 V, max = +13.19 V)
-12V: -11.87 V (min = -13.18 V, max = -10.80 V)
-5V: +3.49 V (min = -5.25 V, max = -4.75 V) ALARM
V5SB: +5.43 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V) ALARM
VBat: +3.54 V (min = +2.40 V, max = +3.60 V)
fan1: 0 RPM (min = 10546 RPM, div = 2) ALARM
fan2: 2311 RPM (min = 1662 RPM, div = 4)
temp1: +100 F (high = +212 F, hyst = +32 F) sensor = thermistor
temp2: +129.2 F (high = +176 F, hyst = +167 F) sensor = thermistor
alarms: Chassis intrusion detection ALARM
beep_enable:
Sound alarm enabled

My detailed computer specifications can be found here: http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/antfarm.../computers.txt
(secondary/backup computer). I also tried not to have too much stuff in my PC case. The only extra thing is I
have is NIC since I don't trust the onboard VIA NIC.

Thank you in advance.
--
"The ants sought personal revenge for my having sprayed them the day before." --Oliver Smith
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

(ANTant@zimage.com) writes:
> Hello,
>
> Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
> xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
> shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
> my room gets too warm easily.

Figure out what is using up so much power, and address those issues.

If your power is higher in the summer, then surely it's air conditioning,
and if you cut that back, it would do more than fiddling with a computer.

Change the lights to compact flourescent bulbs, especially lights left
on a lot, so their drain is down.

Switch off the monitor when it's not being used, because then you
are eliminating a drain that isn't necessary.

Learn about wattage, so you can see what's using the power rather than
think your computer is the big drain.

Small reductions won't make a difference, unless you have a house really
lit up with loads of equipment on all the time in every room.

Michael

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:12:13 -0600, ANTant wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
> xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
> shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
> my room gets too warm easily.
>
> Is there anything else to cool down? Should I really spin my HDDs down (is that a good idea and is it slow to
> spin up if I need it?). I heard about athcool utility, but it sounds scary since it can cause problems, data
> losses, etc. I really don't have the time to mess with it and deal with any problems that it might cause.
>
> I think in my BIOS, I turned off ACPI(?) and APM. Do I need these enabled? How can I check if I have the required
> components installed in my Debian and what do I need (apt-get install). FYI, here is my sensors -f during mostly
> idled and using the box via SSH:

I've dramatically cut down noise and heat in my 24/7 servers setup.
The biggest think I did was move my 'archive' data ( pics, videos,
old logs, etc... things I need but not need 24/7 ) to drives that
only contain those things. Then I set then up to automount only
when needed. When they are unmounted ( and the file systems are
unmounted cleanly ) I use hdparm to spin them down. 90% of the
time, my 2TB NAS box only had 200gig or so spinning, using
electricity and generating heat.

In addition, I enabled the AMD cool-n-quiet features of my CPUs
( had to do a BIOS update on my motherboard ) so my CPUs run at
41% of capacity unless they do something like a compile or
video processing. They run cooler and the fan spins down to 40%
of max. Generates less heat and noise... uses less electricity.

Lastly... I got a $7 CPU fan contoller and put it on my one
box that does not have the capability to reduce it's fan
speed. I manually cranked that one down and monitor it's
Temp via the sensors command. The lower fan speed seems to
keep it plenty cool.

Now... ( compared to what it used to be ) you can barely hear
the 3 servers ( amd 4600+, 3800+, 3200+ and 3TB of drives )
when you are in my office. The heat is GREATLY reduced too.
I was planning on moving one server to a different part of
the house to spread out the heat, but now it's no longer
necessary.

jack


--
D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia

see http://www.jacksnodgrass.com for my contact info.

jack - Grapevine/Richardson

ANTant@zimage.com writes:

>Hello,

>Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
>like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
>so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
>xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
>shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
>my room gets too warm easily.

Shut off your screen. It draws the most power. And for remote access you or
your computer does not care.
Switch off you scanner and printer when not in use.
Your computer itself when running idle will use maybe 40 watts or power. In
a month that is about 30 Kwhr at $.1 per KWHr, that is $3.
Ie, I would suggest searching elsewhere for your biggest savings on
electricity. ( relace all light bulbs with flourescent-- remember that even
one flourescent bulb draws about as much power as a computer, and one
incandescent a lot more. )
Switch off your airconditioner, buy a better fridge and dishwasher.

>Is there anything else to cool down? Should I really spin my HDDs down (is that a good idea and is it slow to
>spin up if I need it?). I heard about athcool utility, but it sounds scary since it can cause problems, data
>losses, etc. I really don't have the time to mess with it and deal with any problems that it might cause.

>I think in my BIOS, I turned off ACPI(?) and APM. Do I need these enabled? How can I check if I have the required
>components installed in my Debian and what do I need (apt-get install). FYI, here is my sensors -f during mostly
>idled and using the box via SSH:

>$ sensors -f
>w83697hf-isa-0290
>Adapter: ISA adapter
>VCore: +1.63 V (min = +1.71 V, max = +1.89 V) ALARM
>+3.3V: +3.25 V (min = +3.14 V, max = +3.47 V)
>+5V: +4.97 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V)
>+12V: +12.04 V (min = +10.82 V, max = +13.19 V)
>-12V: -11.87 V (min = -13.18 V, max = -10.80 V)
>-5V: +3.49 V (min = -5.25 V, max = -4.75 V) ALARM
>V5SB: +5.43 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V) ALARM
>VBat: +3.54 V (min = +2.40 V, max = +3.60 V)
>fan1: 0 RPM (min = 10546 RPM, div = 2) ALARM
>fan2: 2311 RPM (min = 1662 RPM, div = 4)
>temp1: +100 F (high = +212 F, hyst = +32 F) sensor = thermistor
>temp2: +129.2 F (high = +176 F, hyst = +167 F) sensor = thermistor
>alarms: Chassis intrusion detection ALARM
>beep_enable:
> Sound alarm enabled

>My detailed computer specifications can be found here: http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/antfarm.../computers.txt
>(secondary/backup computer). I also tried not to have too much stuff in my PC case. The only extra thing is I
>have is NIC since I don't trust the onboard VIA NIC.

>Thank you in advance.
>--
>"The ants sought personal revenge for my having sprayed them the day before." --Oliver Smith
> /\___/\
> / /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
>| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
> \ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
> ( )

In comp.os.linux.misc Michael Black <et472@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote:
> (ANTant@zimage.com) writes:
> > Hello,
> >
> > Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> > like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> > so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
> > xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
> > shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
> > my room gets too warm easily.

> Figure out what is using up so much power, and address those issues.

> If your power is higher in the summer, then surely it's air conditioning,
> and if you cut that back, it would do more than fiddling with a computer.

Yeah, it is but even without AC, still expensive.


> Change the lights to compact flourescent bulbs, especially lights left
> on a lot, so their drain is down.

True.


> Switch off the monitor when it's not being used, because then you
> are eliminating a drain that isn't necessary.

Yes, I do this when I am not near by or at home.


> Learn about wattage, so you can see what's using the power rather than
> think your computer is the big drain.

> Small reductions won't make a difference, unless you have a house really
> lit up with loads of equipment on all the time in every room.

Ah, darn. I thought my box would be hogging a lot since it uses a 350 watts PSU. Not sure how many watts my box
goes up to when in idled and heavy usage (e.g., compilation, Google Earth, etc.).
--
"The ants sought personal revenge for my having sprayed them the day before." --Oliver Smith
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

In comp.os.linux.misc Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_indigo@verizon.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:12:13 -0600, ANTant wrote:

> > Hello,
> >
> > Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> > like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> > so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
> > xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
> > shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
> > my room gets too warm easily.
> >
> > Is there anything else to cool down? Should I really spin my HDDs down (is that a good idea and is it slow to
> > spin up if I need it?). I heard about athcool utility, but it sounds scary since it can cause problems, data
> > losses, etc. I really don't have the time to mess with it and deal with any problems that it might cause.
> >
> > I think in my BIOS, I turned off ACPI(?) and APM. Do I need these enabled? How can I check if I have the required
> > components installed in my Debian and what do I need (apt-get install). FYI, here is my sensors -f during mostly
> > idled and using the box via SSH:

> I've dramatically cut down noise and heat in my 24/7 servers setup.
> The biggest think I did was move my 'archive' data ( pics, videos,
> old logs, etc... things I need but not need 24/7 ) to drives that
> only contain those things. Then I set then up to automount only
> when needed. When they are unmounted ( and the file systems are
> unmounted cleanly ) I use hdparm to spin them down. 90% of the
> time, my 2TB NAS box only had 200gig or so spinning, using
> electricity and generating heat.

> In addition, I enabled the AMD cool-n-quiet features of my CPUs
> ( had to do a BIOS update on my motherboard ) so my CPUs run at
> 41% of capacity unless they do something like a compile or
> video processing. They run cooler and the fan spins down to 40%
> of max. Generates less heat and noise... uses less electricity.

> Lastly... I got a $7 CPU fan contoller and put it on my one
> box that does not have the capability to reduce it's fan
> speed. I manually cranked that one down and monitor it's
> Temp via the sensors command. The lower fan speed seems to
> keep it plenty cool.

> Now... ( compared to what it used to be ) you can barely hear
> the 3 servers ( amd 4600+, 3800+, 3200+ and 3TB of drives )
> when you are in my office. The heat is GREATLY reduced too.
> I was planning on moving one server to a different part of
> the house to spread out the heat, but now it's no longer
> necessary.

> jack



--
"The ants sought personal revenge for my having sprayed them the day before." --Oliver Smith
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

(ANTant@zimage.com) writes:

>> Small reductions won't make a difference, unless you have a house really
>> lit up with loads of equipment on all the time in every room.
>
> Ah, darn. I thought my box would be hogging a lot since it uses a 350 watts PSU. Not sure how many watts my box
> goes up to when in idled and heavy usage (e.g., compilation, Google Earth, etc.).

But along the lines of the other poster, 350watts is only a bit more than
3 100watt bulbs. Turn off three 100 watt bulbs (or reduce their wattage,
such as the move to compact flourescent), and you've got your savings.

I used to have a 100watt ceiling bulb, and 3 60watt table lamps in the
room with my computer. The ceiling lamp is now about 23W (compact
flourescent) and the table lamps are now 20watt halogens. I've
saved about 100W.

But of course, the 350watt figure on the computer power supply is the
maximum power it can supply. It doesn't draw that if it isn't needed.

But, if you're paying $500 in the summer for electricity, I don't think
a few bulbs are the issue, and thus the computer isn't going to save
much money no matter how much you can reduce its current use.

Michael

On 1 Nov 2006 00:31:48 GMT, Michael Black wrote:
>
> But along the lines of the other poster, 350watts is only a bit more than
> 3 100watt bulbs. Turn off three 100 watt bulbs (or reduce their wattage,
> such as the move to compact flourescent), and you've got your savings.

Yep, also flourescent run cooler so less cooling required.

In <ei8ptk$lb1$1@theodyn.ncf.ca> Michael Black:

[Snip...]

> if you're paying $500 in the summer for electricity, I don't think a few
> bulbs are the issue, and thus the computer isn't going to save much money

Good point, especially if you use a lot of electric airconditioning.

Such ideas for saving electricity are all very good, but I haven't seen
any mention of doing without as much airconditioning as some folks seem
keen on having. Light bulbs (etc.) are small potatoes, if you're trying
to keep rooms electrically cooled to 75 when it's 95 degrees outside.

Of course that's not to say there's no benefit to dialing back PCs.

Use LCD instead of CRT monitors, turn all monitors off when not in use
(even "Power Saving"); check each PC BIOS for energy saving modes.

I have a Compaq Deskpro EN 6350 which has a suspend mode where it does
disk spindown and (apparently) puts the CPU into lowpower standby. The
only thing still running "normal" is the PSU fan (AFAICT). After doing
the BIOS adjustments, it goes into standby mode by simply pressing the
power switch briefly. It takes about 5 seconds to go into standby, and
about 10 seconds to spin the disk up and resume normally.

It's the best compromise I've found between a complete shutdown, and a
readily available workstation--it won't do for servers, I know.

YMMV; HTH...

--
Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS *
Pardon any bogus email addresses (wookie) in place for spambots.
Really, it's (wyrd) at airmail, dotted with net. DO NOT SPAM IT.
Kids jumping ship? Looking to hire an old-school type? Email me.

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode.

Set your A/C one half to one degree higher.

--
Is anyone reading this old enough to remember a time when there was not a
mideast crisis because of Israel?
-- The Iron Webmaster, 3698
nizkor http://www.giwersworld.org/nizkook/nizkook.phtml
Larry Shiff http://www.giwersworld.org/computers/newsagent.phtml a8